Date:23/09/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/09/23/stories/2004092306930400.htm

Andhra Pradesh

BJP seeks white paper on crop loans

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, SEPT.22. The BJP has demanded that the State Government publish a white paper on the total credit extended to farmers during the kharif season.

Addressing a press conference, the State BJP leaders -- S.V. Seshagiri Rao and K. Laxman -- said though credit to the tune of Rs. 11,000 crores was promised to the farmers during the kharif season, it was officially indicated that only Rs. 6,000-odd crores was disbursed. Besides, they maintained that nearly 80 per cent of the credit was only book adjustment.

They also wanted the Government to announce the rabi plan in advance.

Study teams

Charging the Congress Government with failing to fulfil their promises, they said that the recently formed `Rythanga Porata Samithi' had met on Tuesday and discussed the problems of farmers. It was decided that from September 29 nine study teams would undertake a three-day tour of 11 districts which reported farmers' suicide and starvation deaths.

A similar exercise would be undertaken in the remaining districts on October 9 and 10.

The State executive would meet next month to discuss in detail the problems being faced by farmers and chalk out the action programme.

The BJP leaders said that 1,400 farmers had committed suicide since the Congress Government came to power while it was officially stated that 391 farmers had ended their lives.

Jayati Ghosh flayed

They criticised Jayati Ghosh, Chairperson of the Commission on Farmers Welfare, for reportedly commending West Bengal's model for implementing power reforms and said the situation obtaining in Andhra Pradesh was quite different from that State.